I never wrote about ICHILLIN’s debut, which arrived just as the new school year was starting. To be honest, a look back at that song didn’t inspire much of a reaction. But, we all know first comebacks are equally as important as debuts, so it’s time to give follow-up single Fresh a chance. With any … Continue reading
Since debuting as a soloist earlier this year, B.I has been quite prolific. It’s amazing what creative freedom and a break from YG’s restrictive release schedule can do for an artist! He’s delivered a breadth of sound I hadn’t expected, and new single Cosmos continues to push his music in new directions. Though hip-hop remains … Continue reading
I enthusiastically watched the entire NiziU project last year, happy to see many of my favorite personalities and talents make the final group. However, none of their post-show music has appealed to me. They’re one of those J-pop groups who pull a lot from K-pop tropes (JO1 and INI being other prominent examples), and this … Continue reading
The teasers for Billlie’s debut seemed to promise a lore-filled concept with spooky atmosphere and – maybe… just maybe – new musical ideas within the stagnant K-pop girl group landscape. Billlie certainly has the pedigree, hailing from Mystic Story (home to acts like Lucy and Eddy Kim, and with strong ties to SM Entertainment). Debut … Continue reading
I remember Victon’s debut like it was yesterday. Not to veer completely off-topic, but it coincided with the 2016 U.S. presidential election and was overshadowed by a sense of despair felt by many of us on that night. The song itself was quite good, but I’m not sure I gave it much of a chance … Continue reading
Though January’s No Diggity left many of us scratching our heads, ONEUS have gone on to have a very fruitful 2021. If you count their ONEUS Theatre tracks, they’ve released a whopping five singles in Korea, blitzing the industry with a variety of sounds. Over the past few weeks, I’ve lamented the lack of new … Continue reading
It’s not quite December yet, but I’m going to kick off this annual feature a little early this year! Over the next few weeks, I’ll be looking at many of K-pop’s biggest agencies and offering my thoughts about how their 2021 went. First up is SM Entertainment. As usual, the thoughts are my own and … Continue reading
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading
A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. Though they had no comeback, TXT … Continue reading
K-pop’s title tracks might gain most of listeners’ attention, but many album tracks are worth equal spotlight. I call these “buried treasures.” Beyond this, K-pop’s albums deliver thousands of additional tracks that settle for a more limited audience. It’s these songs that will become a part of my “battle of the b-sides” feature. In this … Continue reading
Adora is an in-house producer for Big Hit/HYBE Entertainment, at least partially responsible for highlights like BTS’s Spring Day, TXT’s Our Summer and GFriend’s Labyrinth (!). Because of this pedigree, fans were excited to hear what she would craft for her own solo debut. Even better, Make U Dance brings along former GFriend member Eunha, … Continue reading
TO1 made their rebooted return with May’s Son Of Beast. That track was a lot of fun, courting the inherent silliness of the idol world with an over-the-top performance. But as cringy as the barking ad-libs may have been, the track’s foundation rested upon strong hooks and a memorable instrumental. For follow-up No More X, … Continue reading
Girl group Laboum recently moved to a new agency, with Kiss Kiss their first release under new management. I would love to see the girls break the dreaded “seven year curse,” which strikes when idol groups’ initial contracts have lapsed. Having debuted back in 2014, they’re already on the right track. But, they’re going to … Continue reading
Trot music doesn’t often pop up on this blog, despite the genre being a huge part of the Korean music industry. Some artists cross over and blend trot with more typically “K-pop” aspects, such as Hong Jinyoung. Others don’t perform on weekly music shows at all. It’s rare for an idol to make a debut … Continue reading
Though VIXX haven’t disbanded, the group’s status seems in limbo. Hongbin left the group last year, Ravi and N left the agency (but not the group), Ken is serving in the military and Jellyfish Entertainment seem more focused on getting VERIVERY off the ground. Leo returned from his enlistment two months ago, and seems eager … Continue reading
A decade after their debut as a sub-unit, Super Junior-D&E have finally released their first full Korean album. That’s a long wait, softened by the fact the guys have been active in Japan as well. Countdown was preceded by solo efforts from both Donghae and Eunhyuk, though neither of those tracks are included in the … Continue reading
I debated whether or not to write about 2AM’s comeback. Their surprise reunion feels too important to ignore, but I’ve never felt any connection with the group. I’m simply not a big fan of ballads, and 2AM’s heyday came before I was fully invested in K-pop. So, their music doesn’t bring a sense of personal … Continue reading
Whenever groups make a quick comeback (less than three months in The Boyz’ case), I want to assume it’s because they found an incredible track and simply can’t wait to share it with the world. Ah, wouldn’t that be nice? Honestly, The Boyz are in need of a killer comeback. Their sales and popularity may … Continue reading
At the end of each month, I look back at my three favorite title tracks by K-pop artists. I take my own ratings into account, but there’s a bit of wiggle room as certain songs tend to grow or fade. October 2021 Overall Thoughts When I averaged all my song ratings of October, I was surprised … Continue reading
I don’t know what’s in the water this year, but K-pop has really embraced Halloween. Idol acts often record livestreams or special videos for the holiday, but I can’t remember another year with so much Halloween-themed content. In Pink Fantasy’s case, they’ve themed a whole comeback around it. Tales Of The Unusual (기기괴괴) arrives alongside … Continue reading
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 